Atlantic Division

In a matter of hours, the most international of the North American professional sports leagues will open its 90th anniversary season in the sparkling, sold-out setting of the 02 Arena in London, England.

Like you, I don’t know what will happen during the 2007-08 season, but I like to dream about it. Here are some of the things—82 to be exact (just like a regular-season schedule)—I am looking forward to as we finish preparations for Saturday’s opening-day game. Whether they happen or not remains to be seen, but just thinking about the possibilities will make the wait for Saturday a little more palatable.

Today represents the 35th anniversary of the 1972 Summit series. From the CP,

Henderson will mark the anniversary giving motivational speeches at a leadership conference at an inn north of Toronto.
Canadians who watched the live Summit Series broadcasts will never forget the drama that unfolded.

As long as there are large, angry and well-paid men flying around at crushing speeds, there will be stupid acts, scary collisions and scrambled cerebellum. You could throw a lifetime ban at Downie and someone, soon, would be there to wear the villain’s mask. Marty McSorley begat Donald Brashear. Donald Brashear begat Chris Simon. Curly begat Moe.

And at that point, there will be another body lying motionless on the ice, Cuckoo over Cocoa Puffs, and the rafters will ring once again with the experts’ call to arms.

COMMISSIONER BETTMAN: Let me add my voice in welcoming you to the 02. It is an incredibly impressive facility, arena. All the other aspects of this facility, surrounding it, are really state-of-the-art, really cutting edge. It’s a delight for us to be here.

I’ve had a little bit of time to interact with fans. I’ve met a number of people from Los Angeles and from Orange County. I’ve seen fans from other places in Europe. Met some fans from Finland and Sweden.

For us, this was an opportunity to dip our toe in the water in Europe, take what we believe is the most international of the North American sports, and bring it to the other side of the Atlantic. And while, obviously, London and England may not be the strongest hockey markets in the world, it puts us in closer proximity to markets and people have traveled here.

I was trying to protect Stern. Cronin threw a punch across my shoulder and hit me. . . . I looked up and (former Calgary Flames trainer) Bearcat Murray was standing beside me. There was blood on my sweater. I looked at Stern and he wasn’t bleeding. Bearcat goes: “C’mon, kid. Your nose is broken. Let’s get out of here.”

CEO of the 02, Philip Beard said: “When we announced the games, they pretty much sold out in a couple of weeks. I have to admit that I was surprised.

“We thought it might take a lot longer to promote the event, but not only did sports fans get behind it but the ice hockey leagues in the UK were really keen to promote it as well.”

Beard is particularly pleased with the interest despite the games taking place on a sporting weekend also featuring World Cup rugby and Premier League football.

“It’s fair to say that at the moment there is a massive amount of big sport on, but this weekend is a total sell-out. People are coming from all over the UK and indeed across Europe,” he told BBC Sport.

A certain Web site has suggested the Blue Jackets are in hot pursuit of a Vancouver Canucks center. Also, that the Blue Jackets are fixin’ to trade Nikolai Zherdev to the Edmonton OIilers for a draft pick.

Let’s break this down: Which Canucks center? Brendan Morrison? Doubt it. He centers Markus Naslund on the Canucks’ No. 1A line. If they trade him, who’s the No. 1 center? That creates a huge hole in the lineup of a club that already struggles to score goals.

Iginla pointed out Downie’s hit went too far seeing as he could have made a highlight-reel check without jumping into McAmmond.

“If you don’t leave your feet there, he still gets a big hit. But a lot of us felt it was charging,” Iginla said. “As players, we’re responsible to not put ourselves in that (vulnerable) position, but it happens. You hope there won’t be the full impact, but you can understand and respect when it’s within the rules.”